Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wiccan War Widow Holds Own Ceremony; Protests Official Memorial Service
Madison.com via AP Wire ^ | May 30, 2006 | Tom Gardener

Posted on 05/30/2006 12:53:17 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

FERNLEY, NV - A war widow who wants the government to put a Wiccan religious symbol on her husband's memorial plaque held an alternative service Monday as a protest, hours before an official Memorial Day ceremony nearby.

"This is discrimination against our religion," Roberta Stewart said at the gathering of about 200 at a park east of Fernley for her late husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart. "I ask you to help us remember that all freedoms are worth fighting for."

A few hours later and a few miles away in this pastoral community east of Reno, official Memorial Day ceremonies were conducted at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

The space under Stewart's name on a memorial plaque remains blank.

The Department of Veterans Affairs so far has refused to grant the Stewart family's request to have the Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, placed on the government-issued plaque.

Stewart, 34, was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 25 when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his helicopter. Four others also died. Stewart was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community. Some consider themselves "white" or good witches, pagans or neo-pagans.

"We are here today to honor American religious diversity of all faiths," the Rev. Selena Fox said at the alternative memorial service.

Fox, senior minister of a Wiccan group based in Barneveld, Wis., said Stewart died defending the country that is denying him the right to express his religious freedom.

Jo Schuda, a spokeswoman for the VA, said Friday she did not know when a decision would be made on the request.

Approximately 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; US: Nevada; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fallen; lunatic; militaryfamilies; wiccan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-129 next last
To: SouthernBoyupNorth

In 81 they refused to put Athiest on my tags.


41 posted on 05/30/2006 1:46:08 PM PDT by DungeonMaster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin; fromscratchmom; grellis; Antonello
In most other news articles on the subject, it refers to him as a 'Practicing Wiccian'.

Wiccian was also identified on his dog tags as his religion, something he would have requested.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-02-Thu-2006/news/6149634.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/27/ap/national/mainD8HS48LO0.shtml

http://www.rgj.com/obits/index.php?id=14281

He and his wife's wedding was also a Wiccian ceremony.

Very little to show that she 'chose' this for him, by all accounts, this was his religion too.

42 posted on 05/30/2006 1:49:18 PM PDT by mnehring (Those who advocate, and act to promote, victory by Democrats are not conservatives!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: DejaJude
They worship the all mighty atom?

It's meant to represent rational thought as opposed to faith in a deity. Science is supposed to be the epitome of rational thought, and an atom is a good symbol of science.

However, it's still a stupid-looking symbol.

43 posted on 05/30/2006 1:53:22 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

Well, there you go then. I asked, you did the legwork for me! :)


44 posted on 05/30/2006 1:56:34 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
You peaked my curiosity with that question...
45 posted on 05/30/2006 1:57:26 PM PDT by mnehring (Those who advocate, and act to promote, victory by Democrats are not conservatives!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: fromscratchmom
In the end they will probably give her what she wants.

As they should. In the end she is the serviceman's next-of-kin and we should give her the benefit of the doubt that she is acting in his best interests. I have no reson to doubt that the man was Wiccan, so I see absolutely no reason why there shouldn't be the religious symbol of his choice on the marker.

46 posted on 05/30/2006 1:58:39 PM PDT by Non-Sequitur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan
Not quite sure how it got transformed

The pentagram was used with astrological or religions meaning long before Christianity, and has been used by many cultures since. I'm not sure why Christians discarded it.

47 posted on 05/30/2006 2:00:18 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

LOL. I don't think you even have to visit a conspiracy site. There are people around here who have basically said as much.


48 posted on 05/30/2006 2:03:42 PM PDT by pollyannaish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: antiRepublicrat

"I'm not sure why Christians discarded it."

The more I think about it, it probably is BECAUSE of the mutliple other religions making claim to the symbol that Christianity discarded it.

Opted for symbols fairly unique to Christianity: Sign of Jonah (fish, rising from death in 3 days and reference to miracle of fish); cup; cross, or all three together.


49 posted on 05/30/2006 2:05:28 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan

I believe it has to do with the belief that by turning something holy upside down, (inverted pentagram) that it somehow is opposite and therefore, evil.


50 posted on 05/30/2006 2:06:47 PM PDT by taxcontrol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative
Wiccan War Widow

Kinda sounds like there was a war between the Wiccans.

51 posted on 05/30/2006 2:07:14 PM PDT by DejaJude (Admiral Clark said, "Our mantra today is life, liberty and the pursuit of those who threaten it!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: DungeonMaster

I believe they just put "None," which is pretty close.

"No preference" was for those damn fence-sitting agnostics.


52 posted on 05/30/2006 2:07:47 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: SouthernBoyupNorth
Official "emblem of belief" chart:
skip navigation
Image of a headstones shaded by a large tree at dawn
NCA Home Page
"A Sacred Trust"
Nationwide Gravesite Locator
What's New
About NCA
History
National Cemetery Web Pages
Cemeteries
Burial Benefits
Headstones and Markers
Presidential Memorial Certificates
Military Funeral Honors
Obtaining Military Records & Medals
Office of Construction Management
State Cemetery Grants Program
FAQs
Site Map


Department of Veterans Affairs Seal: Return to Home Page
[skip navigation]
skip navigation


Burial & Memorial Benefits


Headstones and Markers; Inscriptions; Emblems of Belief Available For Placement on Government Headstones and Markers



    EMBLEM
    01
    CHRISTIAN CROSS
    Christian Cross
    02
    BUDDHIST (Wheel of Righteousness)
    BUDDHIST (Wheel of Righteousness)
    03
    HEBREW (Star of David)
    HEBREW (Star of David)
    04
    PRESBYTERIAN CROSS
    PRESBYTERIAN CROSS
    05
    RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CROSS
    RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CROSS
    06
    LUTHERAN CROSS
    LUTHERAN CROSS
    07
    EPISCOPAL CROSS
    EPISCOPAL CROSS
    08
    UNITARIAN CHURCH (Flaming Chalice)
    UNITARIAN CHURCH (Flaming Chalice)
    09
    UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
    UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
    10
    AARONIC ORDER CHURCH
    AARONIC ORDER CHURCH
    11
    MORMON (Angel Moroni)
    MORMON (Angel Moroni)
    12
    NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA
    NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA
    13
    SERBIAN ORTHODOX
    SERBIAN ORTHODOX
    14
    GREEK CROSS
    GREEK CROSS
    15
    BAHAI (9 Pointed Star)
    BAHAI (9 Pointed Star)
    16
    ATHEIST
    ATHEIST
    17
    MUSLIM (Crescent and Star)
    MUSLIM (Crescent and Star)
    18
    HINDU
    HINDU
    19
    KONKO-KYO FAITH
    KONKO-KYO FAITH
    20
    COMMUNITY OF CHRIST
    COMMUNITY OF CHRIST
    21
    SUFISM REORIENTED
    SUFISM REORIENTED
    22
    TENRIKYO CHURCH
    TENRIKYO CHURCH
    23
    SEICHO-NO-IE
    SEICHO-NO-IE
    24
    CHURCH OF WORLD MESSIANITY (Izunome)
    CHURCH OF WORLD MESSIANITY (Izunome)
    25
    UNITED CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE
    UNITED CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE
    26
    CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
    CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
    27
    UNITED MORAVIAN CHURCH
    UNITED MORAVIAN CHURCH
    28
    ECKANKAR
    ECKANKAR
    29
    CHRISTIAN CHURCH
    CHRISTIAN CHURCH
    30
    CHRISTIAN & MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
    CHRISTIAN & MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
    31
    UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
    UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
    32
    HUMANIST EMBLEM OF SPIRIT
    HUMANIST EMBLEM OF SPIRIT
    33
    PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
    PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
    34
    IZUMO TAISHAKYO MISSION OF HAWAII
    IZUMO TAISHAKYO MISSION OF HAWAII
    35
    SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL - USA
    SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL - USA
    36
    SIKH (KHANDA)
    SIKH (KHANDA)
    97
    CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST (Cross & Crown) Not shown because of copyrights.
    98
    MUSLIM (Islamic 5 Pointed Star) Not shown because of copyrights.

    No graphics (logos, symbols, etc.) are permitted on Government-furnished headstones or markers other than the approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield, the Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of Honor insignias.



Click this and type 40-1330 in the form search window; when it opens, scroll down and click on the highlighted 40-1330 to get a PDF file to see images>

53 posted on 05/30/2006 2:08:00 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: taxcontrol

Probably that and others.


54 posted on 05/30/2006 2:08:46 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

I used to have a Wiccan Chair.

Piece of it came loose.

I pulled on it and pulled on it and the chair became undone.


55 posted on 05/30/2006 2:10:22 PM PDT by Beckwith (The liberal media has picked sides and they've sided with the Jihadists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

They can do atheist, humanist, but they can't do wiccan?

I'd call it discrimination.


56 posted on 05/30/2006 2:11:14 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Antonello; mnehrling; fromscratchmom; All

"Should we question a Christian widow's request for a cross if the fallen soldier might have just been 'indulging her while alive to keep the peace'?"

Sure. It happens. My husband doesn't openly practice his religion, but he's told me I can bury him any way I want to if he goes before me. Just make absolutely certain he's dead before I do so, LOL!

I wasn't denegrating their choice in religion at all. Luckily, we Lutherans have thick skins when others accuse us of things they imagine we're saying. ;)

"mnehrling" cleared it all up. The article was sorely lacking in details; you know the MSM and how they LOVE to leave out the details so it makes the MILITARY look bad. As a vet myself, it bugs the heck out of me.

This IS an AP story, so I have no problems questioning the content or looking for the "agenda." It's not like they don't misrepresent the facts on a daily basis when it comes to sticking it to the military for any reason they can find.

And they had to look long and hard to find a 'Wiccan War Widow' to use her to make the military look bad. How many buried now? 2,460 or so? We've had 55 losses in Wisconsin. No stories about those families and their loss because they're not whining about the military "doing them wrong."


57 posted on 05/30/2006 2:12:12 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

And you know there are more wiccans than members of that group, or some of the other obscure churches on their list.


58 posted on 05/30/2006 2:14:01 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

I was reading through all the posts thinking the same thing.

No proof anywhere that Wicca was his religion. I put a few off ball things on my form every now and again. Good thing I didn't get killed with one of the real stupid ones I had listed.
59 posted on 05/30/2006 2:15:24 PM PDT by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Ummmm, there is still no set government marker for Wiccans, while there are markers for a myriad of other obscure faiths.

I personally think that should be remedied and have no problem with AP telling me about the oversight.


60 posted on 05/30/2006 2:19:04 PM PDT by stands2reason (You cannot bully or insult conservatives into supporting your guy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-129 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson